Quick and concise: those are two words to describe Serena Williams’ answers in her post-match press conference just minutes after her semifinal defeat to 10th seed Karolina Pliskova, which consequently ended her quest for a seventh U.S. Open crown and an Open Era record 23rd Grand Slam singles title. However, perhaps more devastatingly, Williams’ defeat ends her reign at the top of women’s tennis after 186 consecutive weeks, with reigning Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber now guaranteed to move into the top spot next Monday.
Williams: “I Don’t Think Much Really Went Well Today”
Speaking to the press following her semifinal exit at the hands of the Czech number one, an understandably disappointed Williams assertively addressed questions surrounding her health heading into the match, as well as what she felt were the difference makers against Pliskova, but declined to comment on her post-U.S. Open schedule and failure to retain the number one ranking.
“I don’t think much really went well today,” admitted the world number one at the beginning of her presser. “I made a lot of errors and I didn’t play as well as I have been playing.”
“I’m not downplaying anything. Karolina played great today. I think if she had played any less then maybe I would have had a chance.”
“So I think I wasn’t at 100%, but I also think she played well. She deserved to win today.”
Williams on Hampered Left Leg and Knee Injury
Throughout the match, a left leg and knee injury appeared to hamper the world number one’s mobility, an injury that the American later admitted to taking a toll on her mentally.
“I wasn’t able to move the way I wanted to move,” she explained. “When you’re injured you’re thinking of other things when you should be just playing and thinking of your shots. My mind was just a little bit everywhere. But it was what it was.”
“When you’re hampered you're thinking of other things. Like I was making errors that I never make, and definitely, I didn’t make in this tournament in particular. So many simple, simple shots that I easily could have made.”
“I just blame that on just mentally thinking about my leg and just not thinking about the shot,” she later added.
An injury she says she picked up after her second-round win over compatriot Vania King, Williams said there had yet to be a diagnosis on her left leg injury, but she’d “rather not say” actually, insisting that it was just fine.
Williams Insists Fatigue Did Not Play a Part in Her Semifinal Defeat
Just 21 hours after her thrilling three-set win over world number five Simona Halep, Williams was forced to hit the court against Pliskova and the world number one consistently insisted that fatigue did not play a role in her defeat, despite the short turnaround. After saying that she didn’t feel “beaten up” after her quarterfinal match, the top seed decided to elaborate to take this topic out of the discussion.
“Okay, I’m not going to repeat myself,” she said, assertively. “I wasn’t tired from yesterday’s match. I’m a professional player; been playing for over 20 years.”
“If I can’t turn around after 24 hours and play again then I shouldn’t be on tour. So I definitely wasn’t tired from yesterday’s match at all.”
With ESPN the official broadcaster of the Open, Williams was asked if she felt it was fair for the television network request that she play her semifinal first, rather than Kerber and Wozniacki, who already had a day’s rest after winning their respective quarterfinal matches, to which she responded, “Um, I mean, honestly, I don’t—and I’m not disagreeing with you. Actually, I am. I don’t see how it’s not unfair. Like, we play every single week. We play—I have been in Toronto or Montreal or Cincinnati where I play Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.”
“I mean, if I’m not used to playing this, and I really should think of something different. I’m not going to sit here and make an excuse. Because that’s not me. Being a professional, if I can’t recover, then, you know, that’s that.”
“But I was totally okay. It had nothing to do with that. That’s what we do on a weekly basis.”
Williams Most Proud of Composure Despite Second-Consecutive Semifinal Exit at Flushing Meadows
Always the perfectionist, Williams disappointingly walks away from this U.S. Open with a second-consecutive semifinal exit, having lost to Roberta Vinci in the iconic semifinal last year, so it comes as no surprise that the six-time champion is only really proud when she succeeds. However, more than before, Williams notices one major takeaway from another otherwise stellar run to the last four of a major.
“I think I had a pretty positive attitude mostly outside of maybe my second round,” she said. “I think that I could walk away with that.”